A Brief History of Tambellini’s Coaches

Ralph Krueger is the fourth coach of the Edmonton Oilers during Tambellini’s less than five-year old tenure as general manager, and the third one that Tambellini has hired himself.

When Tambellini took over the Oilers in the summer of 2008, he inherited Craig MacTavish. MacTavish, like most long-time coaches, was a favourite target of fans who perceived him to be the main problem with the team. The phrase “lost the room” started to hover around MacTavish’s name with the same frequency that “enigmatic” and “Russian” occur together in North American hockey writing. Whether such claims were fair or not, a disappointing 2008-09 campaign that saw the Oilers fall from 88 to 85 points was MacTavish’s last as coach.

To replace MacTavish, Tambellini hired Pat Quinn – a man he knew well from their time together in Vancouver during the early 1990’s. Quinn’s tenure was disastrous; the team fell to dead last in the NHL. After one season, Quinn was bumped upstairs to a “senior advisor” position and did not stay with the team when his contract ran out.

Quinn in turn was replaced by Tom Renney; like Quinn, Renney was another guy who coached in Vancouver during Tambellini’s time with that club. Additionally, Renney had served as associate coach under Quinn, so Tambellini had recent knowledge of his views of the team and coaching methods. Renney lasted two full seasons, but was dismissed after the 2011-12 team failed to meet expectations.

Ralph Krueger, Renney’s associate coach of two years, took over the team this summer. Owing to his time as an associate coach, Krueger represented yet another known quantity for Tambellini. The early results, despite Krueger’s impressive off-ice demeanor, have not been impressive; in a lot of ways it’s difficult to discern much difference between Renney’s team and Krueger’s team in terms of results.

Is Coaching The Problem?

In my personal opinion, with the exception of Quinn’s brief and disastrous term as head coach, coaching has not been the problem with the Oilers. There is, naturally, no such thing as a perfect coach but Craig MacTavish was a very good one. I didn’t like Tom Renney quite as much, but he was tactically astute. The jury is still out on Krueger, but I think it would be a mistake to lay this team’s problems solely on him.

When the word “disappointing” can be used to describe the results of a team under four different coaches in less than five full seasons, it gets awfully difficult to posit that a coaching change is going to make much difference. That’s because that kind of track record lends itself to only two possible conclusions: either the coaches aren’t the problem or all of the coaches have been a problem. In the first case, changing the coach does nothing; in the second, it’s pretty clear that the guy picking coaches doesn’t know what he’s doing.

Like I said, I don’t think the coaches have all been bad. In some ways, it’s like a vehicle – operator error can be responsible for a lot of problems, but sometimes a car or truck just needs to be recalled because the manufacturer did something wrong. In those cases, it’s not the fault of the guy driving the car, it’s the fault of the guy who made a mistake during the original construction.

That’s where the Oilers are at now. Three times in the last four seasons, the team has disappointed, and in all three cases the head coach lost his job as a result. There’s still time to salvage the 2013 season, but if it once again leads to disappointment it should be the general manager who pays the price.

Jonathan Willis is a freelance writer.
He currently works for Oilers Nation, Sportsnet, the Edmonton Journal and Bleacher Report.
He's co-written three books and worked for myriad websites, including Grantland, ESPN, The Score, and Hockey Prospectus. He was previously the founder and managing editor of Copper & Blue.

I've often been one of the voices preaching patience and sticking to the plan, but at this stage I think a trade is required. Not for a grizzled, win-now veteran, but rather a hockey trade to upgrade the second line.

I don't know if acquiring O'Reilly would be attainable or even beneficial, but it is an option that is most definitely in need of exploration at this point.

If Tambellini moved to fire the coach, I would hope that Katz would move to fire Tambellini first.

Katz and Lowe are pulling the strings here, Tambellini is only the doing the dirty work. By the way things are going so far, it doesn't take a rocket jeanyous to see Steven and Ralph will be toast after this season. Lowe and MacTavish will be much better managers with 6 lotto picks in their back pocket (Hall,Hopkins,Yakupov......Shultz and Eberle who play like ones, and this summers premium selection) Tambellini has worked wonders overseeing Daryl and Kevins plan. Stevens reward will be remaining on the payroll for yrs to come, after he's relieved of his duties. 1/3rd the way through the season and we're 4 pts out of yet a 4th straight first overall selection.

Not many expected Krueger to be named coach last summer. When i heard he was named, i figured Lowe wanted one more lotto selection before him and Katz clean house. As long as Lowe is learning from his mistakes, hopefully he'll be much better than he was 5-10 yrs ago.

Familiarity with who Tambo hires for coaches and retains for players is an easy way out. The GM has done nothing for this team besides trading Gilbert for Nick Schultz, and bringing in Petrell. He has shown the fanbase very little since his hiring. It is time for him to go, but who replaces him? MacT? Brian Burke? No easy decision for KLowe.

The Oilers go on the road trip from Hell right away and they are already in a position to be drafting 7th overall. This is starting to have the feeling of another lost year.

Something has to give here.

Krueger has to be bullet prrof right now, but he also needs to find a way to get this team scoring 5x5. There is absolutely no reason a squad this talented up front should be struggling so badly to score at evens.

the oilers have too many bad contracts,a 4 mil back-up goalie,a 4 mil d-man in the press box,a 5 mil 3rd line center,and a 5-mil right winger that can't score,till these contracts are gone,i think their hands are tied.the young guys need some help but aren't getting any.

Unbelievable that we would even be having this discussion right now! Sixteen games into a shortened season & the sky is falling! What happens when all these grade A chances starting fluttering into the net? Patience is essential at this point of the rebuild when we're talking about 18 to 23 yr olds being the core! I'm sure deals will be made when there is willing partners ready to make 'good' hockey trades rather then just making a deal for the sake of making a deal! We need patience in order to get more players like Fistric who will have a bright future with the Oil! I for one can wait in order to do it right!

There should be absolutely no chance of a coaching change. Krueger appears to be one of the most articulate and intelligent coaches we've seen in awhile. Give him some tools to work with. Trade whoever you need to, other than Hall, and get some size down the middle and truculence in the lineup. I'm so tired of the Oilers being so soft to play against.

There should be absolutely no chance of a coaching change. Krueger appears to be one of the most articulate and intelligent coaches we've seen in awhile. Give him some tools to work with. Trade whoever you need to, other than Hall, and get some size down the middle and truculence in the lineup. I'm so tired of the Oilers being so soft to play against.

Unbelievable that we would even be having this discussion right now! Sixteen games into a shortened season & the sky is falling! What happens when all these grade A chances starting fluttering into the net? Patience is essential at this point of the rebuild when we're talking about 18 to 23 yr olds being the core! I'm sure deals will be made when there is willing partners ready to make 'good' hockey trades rather then just making a deal for the sake of making a deal! We need patience in order to get more players like Fistric who will have a bright future with the Oil! I for one can wait in order to do it right!

Sorry dude,but the "rebuild" as you dare say, is now an Islander "rebuild". Management keeps hoping for lightning in a bottle. Everyone can see that something is very wrong with Nuge and they keep playing or Hemskying him.

There is no balance in the depth chart. It's time to separate the boys from the men and do what is right. If you have not noticed, Hall and Eberle are heading into their second contracts. Nuge next year and Yak and Schults the year after.

As it is obvious that you are a Troll sent by management, answer me this:

We're having this conversation again because what we're seeing right now is the same broken record that we've witnessed for the last 4 years. We want to see some sort of progress here, and a slow slide towards the Draft Lottery is not progress. One of the things that has remained constant in this time has been Tambellini. It is obvious that he is unable to put together any sort of semblance of a mixture of player types that will succeed. Doing just a small amount of tinkering to a 29th place team will not suddenly make the that team better. Tambellini needs to go.

a) size and grit in the top 6
b) C's that can win faceoffs
c) improved back-end (to be specific, Lefthanded top 2D)

There are some names out there: Ryan O'Reilly (Sam Gagner + Prospect + Pick?) Nino Neidereitter (Hemsky + ?) Dustin Penner (Straight up for Whitney?) Mark Streit (Part of Hemsky package?). Point is, there are deals to be had. Tambi needs to make something happen. This group, as constructed, is too small and too soft. The cycle is nearly non-existant and the second line is getting KILLED right now.

I like Gags, I really like Hemmer and Whits is a good guy (and great twitter follow), but we already have their replacements on this team. Yak = Better Hemsky (and natural RW), J Shultz = Better Whitney (circa 2010), and NUGE (even playing hurt) = 3 Gagners (Would you trade Nuge ahead of Gags?? That is the option. We CAN'T survive with 2 guys up the middle on the top 2 lines that are smaller than 6 feet and 190lbs). I would be hesitant to trade any of this year's picks in any package, but next year / the year after? I think those should be in play.

Tambo needs to get creative and execute. This season is still salvageable, and this will build us going into next year.

Familiarity with who Tambo hires for coaches and retains for players is an easy way out. The GM has done nothing for this team besides trading Gilbert for Nick Schultz, and bringing in Petrell. He has shown the fanbase very little since his hiring. It is time for him to go, but who replaces him? MacT? Brian Burke? No easy decision for KLowe.

I think MacT was brought in for that exact reason. Quick and easy transistion.

GMs select the coaching team and provide them with approrpiate players to implement the coach's system of play. They also identify and acquire talent to fill team needs and make the decision when and how to terminate non-productive players and coaches. When it comes to acquiring players, it has to be through trades, the draft, UFA signings or waivers.

Coaches develop, assess and train the players and are responsible for implementing and conveying strategies for the team to be successful against other teams. They also report to management about the progress and regression of players.

Players implement and execute the coach's strategies and plans on the ice.

When I look at this breakdown (which is not meant to be all inclusive of all of their duties but only of their major responsibilities), I keep coming back to the
conclusion that Tambellini is a one trick pony-- draft, draft, draft. While that it is a major part of building a team in today's NHL, the draft is only one of four ways to acquire players. For every Justin Schultz (which is an exceptional case), there is a Sutton.

the oilers have too many bad contracts,a 4 mil back-up goalie,a 4 mil d-man in the press box,a 5 mil 3rd line center,and a 5-mil right winger that can't score,till these contracts are gone,i think their hands are tied.the young guys need some help but aren't getting any.

This makes no sense. They aren't having cap issues, so bad contracts has less than zero to do with anything. I suppose its Horcoffs fault because he makes 5.5 million too.

If Tambo had the balls to do something (or the skills) he is not handcuffed by anything but his own incompetence.

No way that Tambellini survives another coach firing anytime soon. Not if Katz is serious about turning this team into a contender. I think it's too early to judge Krueger as a coach. At what points do the players take some blame? What about management for putting together a flawed team?

That said, I think that Krueger needs to switch things up. We need more grit on more lines. Play guys on their comfortable wings. With everybody (except Horcoff since he is likely a ways away) at his disposal, I would try this:
Jones - RNH - Eberle
Hall - Gagner - Hemsky
Paajarvi - Belanger - Eager
Smyth - Vande Velde - Yakupov

Spread out the grit a bit. I know that Yakupov doesn't look like a fit on that fourth line but I haven't really liked his game lately and I don't think that he is too far from a 'sit and watch' trip to the press box. I actually haven't minded VV's game and his line has been generating some chances so putting a finisher like the Yak on his line could help.

YakCity hadn't scored that brilliant goal to tie the Kings with 5 seconds left and the Oilers lost ...

And Wisniewski didn't cough up the puck costing the Jackets a win ...

And the Oil didn't come back agains the Avs last Saturday night ...

The team's record would be 3-10-3.

A General Manager would have to be fired. Have To Be.

True...but if the linesman doesn't get in the way of Hall in the L.A game and Vancouver doesn't score two lucky deflection goals in the 3rd period, then this team might be 8-6-2 and holding down a playoff spot.

I realize the results in terms of the standings has been relatively the same this season. But I think the Oilers have still made progress. They don't get dominated in games nearly as often and control a lot more of the play than they use to. I keep hoping this team is on the verge of turning a corner...

I hate to say it, and I'll probably get the once(or twice) over for this, but I'm gonna suggest what the patience guy is suggesting and say maybe they wanted this season to go like this.. Maybe they didn't add very much last off season cause they have their eyes on the prize for next season?

I know I know, accountability and what not, I'm just saying what if this is the plan. I don't want to go through what we've all gone through since 06 just to blow it up now..

I want to win just as much as anyone on here, and I love my Oilers, and will till the day I die, so maybe I'm just trying to soften the losing for myself..

....but doctor says if I want my brain to stop hurting I gotta stop drinking profusely and banging my head against the wall every second night.

We're firing the coach now? Wait. What did I miss? Are peeps actually going there? Wow.

I never liked how the Kruegs handled the PP time. Pulling Halls unit off after 30 seconds and then back on for the last 15. Never liked it. Actually thought it was asinine. But, I don't think the coach is the problem. He'll figure this sh*t out. I got the faith.

I think the problem lies in the need for some additional bangers and for the Whole team to buy in and forecheck. Gotta make some hits. Lets get dirty!

If I was the coach I would tell them that if you don't get at least one hit the next game you don't play the following one. Could be why I'm a armchair dude. But, hey, What I do, I do well.

Roll up those sleeves! Keep it simple. Puck in deep. Forecheck. Go to the net. And, hit everything that wears a different jersey. Period.

The message needs to be loud and clear. K-Lowe and Timid Tambi need to be relieved of their duties. Laughing stocks of the hockey world. the 2006 cup run was the worse thing that happened to the fanbase. Majority of the fans became a bunch of sheep and thought whatever management does is A-OK. There is a small number of fans who know how badly run this team has been since that year and their voices are muted. I would not be surprised if the Oilers have some paid shills commenting on these blogs with their disinformation about the Oilers and the Arena. I am all for the arena and I do applaud Mandel for sticking up against the Katz Group, otherwise we would have been milked for every penny. All this support for this team has clouded everyone's judgement. I am a passionate fan of this club and there was a lot more respect for the late 90's early 2000's Oiler teams than the silky smooth and popcorn entertainment ones of recent years (9-2, 8-4 drubbings of Chi-town).

4 coaches in 5 years. Its not the coach. Good organizatioms that don't win change. For 5 years we are too small or easy to play against. The models broke and I believe u gotta remove the chaff. Lowebelleni must go. A new direction is needed.

a) size and grit in the top 6
b) C's that can win faceoffs
c) improved back-end (to be specific, Lefthanded top 2D)

There are some names out there: Ryan O'Reilly (Sam Gagner + Prospect + Pick?) Nino Neidereitter (Hemsky + ?) Dustin Penner (Straight up for Whitney?) Mark Streit (Part of Hemsky package?). Point is, there are deals to be had. Tambi needs to make something happen. This group, as constructed, is too small and too soft. The cycle is nearly non-existant and the second line is getting KILLED right now.

I like Gags, I really like Hemmer and Whits is a good guy (and great twitter follow), but we already have their replacements on this team. Yak = Better Hemsky (and natural RW), J Shultz = Better Whitney (circa 2010), and NUGE (even playing hurt) = 3 Gagners (Would you trade Nuge ahead of Gags?? That is the option. We CAN'T survive with 2 guys up the middle on the top 2 lines that are smaller than 6 feet and 190lbs). I would be hesitant to trade any of this year's picks in any package, but next year / the year after? I think those should be in play.

Tambo needs to get creative and execute. This season is still salvageable, and this will build us going into next year.

THIS IS THE TURNING POINT.

Agree with the concept presented here..it is a personnel issue not a coaching issue. Not sure the trades and moves suggested are legit.

The personnel they do have also aren't very adaptable. Im getting tired of seeing the same play being executed over and over and over and over (repetitiveness purposeful for emphasis) with the same results.

Case in point versus LA. When the Oil got the 5 on 3 PP you could see them setting up immediately with RNH and Eberle going behind the goal line. And the Kings knew it too..they were set up to defend even before the PP setup was finished. Result = no greats chances or even good shots.

So recanting on a comment I made above maybe it is a coaching issue with the system play or maybe its the aptitude of the players not executing the game plan (im not in the dressing room to hear what the system game plans are). All good teams can play the puck possession game and the dump and chase - and they know when to change gears moving from one to the other.

Unfortunately your not saying Tambellini is gone and perhaps Lowe . For me I blame Lowe for Hiring Tambo . Obviously Vancouver knew what they where doing by not making him there GM. Kruegers system doesn't work for this group or I should say his top lines . Lowe if not Katz needs to make a decision on this turmoil.

I feel bad for RK.he seems to be a decent man.
He was handed a losing deck when he was hired as coach I cannot believe he had any choice on his assistants.Smith ,Bucky and Chabot would not have been picked by any free agent coaching candidate.
When the oil replaced Renney they did not make a change they merely shuffled the deck.

Sorry dude,but the "rebuild" as you dare say, is now an Islander "rebuild". Management keeps hoping for lightning in a bottle. Everyone can see that something is very wrong with Nuge and they keep playing or Hemskying him.

There is no balance in the depth chart. It's time to separate the boys from the men and do what is right. If you have not noticed, Hall and Eberle are heading into their second contracts. Nuge next year and Yak and Schults the year after.

As it is obvious that you are a Troll sent by management, answer me this:

WHAT IN THE HELL ARE YOU SMOKING????

So Eric, what your telling me is we've drafted & signed excellent skilled players the last few years & Hallsy, Ebs, Nuge, Yak & J Schultz (the core) are all ready for prime time? Get serious 'dude', who is smoking what? Quality trades can't be made when nobody is willing to trade quality players! Young players squeezing their sticks hard in a market clearly not patient enough!

The problem is you can't fire Krueger without firing Lowe so who can fire Lowe? The real question is when does my non confrontational, let me hide behind my hired entourage clan Katz.....man up and get rid of this ole bys club that for 20 years can not figure out what it takes to win ???...just my take....not ranting....

There should be absolutely no chance of a coaching change. Krueger appears to be one of the most articulate and intelligent coaches we've seen in awhile. Give him some tools to work with. Trade whoever you need to, other than Hall, and get some size down the middle and truculence in the lineup. I'm so tired of the Oilers being so soft to play against.

Cranenbury, do think there's another team with this many NO.1 picks and Lotto picks as the Oilers have... What other tools do you want.

If theplayers arent right, then Tamblini and Mr. Super McGregor should be on the street.

Overall Management........or the lack therof is our major problem. Too many issues for far too long, how many years have writer and pundits been talking about needing size,, skill, and toughness. Throw in defense and there is not much left to improve upon, unless we count the physical trainers.........oh yea we fired them too.

In fact everybody has been replaced except for the ones calling the shots.......same people making the same mistakes and getting rewarded for it.

Lowe and Tamby need to go to the light.......we unfortunately have two of the most incompetent people running the show.

We're having this conversation again because what we're seeing right now is the same broken record that we've witnessed for the last 4 years. We want to see some sort of progress here, and a slow slide towards the Draft Lottery is not progress. One of the things that has remained constant in this time has been Tambellini. It is obvious that he is unable to put together any sort of semblance of a mixture of player types that will succeed. Doing just a small amount of tinkering to a 29th place team will not suddenly make the that team better. Tambellini needs to go.

I think there is another Constant here.. Lowe. The buck stops at his desk. I also suspect that Katz, living in the 80 is using Lowe as his bum boy to build the dream team Katz thinks it should be. Might be a good business man, but he knows s....t about hockey.

Hard to build a winning team, when every other person is sharing a wiener.

J. W. good call. Great to see you guys tackling some of the issues [even Matheson is on the case,and not sitting on the fence ]. I am from the school that Kruger isnt the guy to coach.. hang over from last year... when a coach tells you he dosnt bring a white board to practice scares the heck out of me. These philospher kings, can talk their way thru any walk in life, and impress, until you get down to the nitty gritty of the subject... I think Kruger is one of them.

We know why Bucky and Smith are there!

I am not supporting Tambelini, but the fact is the coach will be the first to go.

If Mac T is the guy to take over, lets get on with it, before trade deadline [ mind you Dithers wont be doing much anyway]!. While your cleaning house get rid of some of the scouting staff.. MacGregor would be first on the list.
you have ask yourself, how can Montreal, and Toronto be playing the way they are without a gazillion first rounders and lotto picks...
new coach,, new GM. ??